MCLEAN, Va.—Mars, Inc. has committed to fundamentally change the way sustainable cocoa farming practices are advanced by aiming to certify its entire cocoa supply as being produced in a sustainable manner by 2020.
“Our commitment to sustainability is serious and long-term, and this announcement is a major step towards our global commitment to purchase only cocoa that is certified as being produced in a sustainable manner,” said Paul S. Michaels, Mars CEO and president. “We are determined to put our principles into action, restoring cocoa supply for the next generation.”
The Rainforest Alliance, an international not-for-profit organization, works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Mars, Incorporated and the Rainforest Alliance announced a multi-year, multi-country collaboration. By 2020, the goal of the collaboration is to achieve Rainforest Alliance certification of 100,000 metric tons of cocoa annually for use in Mars products, a significant portion of Mars total cocoa requirements.
As part of the Mars global strategy to secure its supply of cocoa and improve the livelihood of farmers, Mars will be using Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa in its Galaxy Chocolate sold in the United Kingdom and Ireland, beginning in 2010.
